Apparatus for distributing material onto the ground

ABSTRACT

Distributing apparatus for distributing particulate material, for example fertilizer, on the ground includes a mobile frame and a recirculatory conveyor system mounted on the frame and extending transversely of the direction of travel of the apparatus. The material is carried in a hopper on the frame and the material is conveyed from the hopper along a first conveyor with discharge outlets to a return conveyor which conveys material back to the hopper. The conveyor system is pivotable from an operative into an inoperative position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor William Lawrence Savage [56] References Cited Stamford. England UNITED STATES PATENTS s' 33:8 969 2,003,417 6/1935 Andreas 222 31sx 3,039,660 6/1962 Anderson 1 222/318X [451 paemed 3 377 000 4/1968 Mason Jr 222/31sx [73] Assignee Blackstone & Company Limited Stamford, England Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [32] Priority June 12, 1968, Mar. 1, 1969, April 1, 1969 Att0rneyMawhinney & Mawhinney [33] Great Britain [3| 27823/68, 11049/69 and 16873/69 ABSTRACT: Distributing apparatus for distributing particulate material, for example fertilizer,on the ground includes a [54] zgggg MATERIAL mobile frame and a recireulatory conveyor system mounted 11 18 D on the frame and extending transversely of the direction of aims rawmg travel of the apparatus. The material is carried in a hopper on [52] US. Cl 222/109, the frame and the material is conveyed from the hopper along 222/318 a first conveyor with discharge outlets to a return conveyor [51] Int. Cl 867d l/l6 which conveys material back to the hopper. The conveyor [50] Field of Search 222/318, system is pivotable from an operative into an inoperative posi- 109 tion.

PATENTED 'JUN 1 19?:

sum 3 OF 9 INVE NTOR WwuA'm LAwaa Swims.

PATENTED JUN 1 Ian 3;581 945 IN V E NTOR \Mu. IAM LAw mlu cu SAvmn PATENTEDJUH llsm 3.581.945

SHEET 5 OF 9 INVENTOR WILLIAM LAWRENCE SAvAqu PATENTEU JUN I l97| SHEET 9 BF 9 FIG.|7.

IN V E NTOR WILLIAM LAwnEMcE SAvAqE APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL ONTO THE GROUND This invention relates to distributing apparatus for distributing particulate material, for example fertilizer or seeds, on the ground.

Fertilizer distributors have been proposed which are intended to cover a relatively large area of ground in one passage of the distributor and which have a transverse boom from which the fertilizer is distributed. A difficulty in providing a satisfactory fertilizer distributor of this form is that the booms are cumbersome especially when travelling to and from the place where distribution is to take place and when maneuvering. A further difficulty is in ensuring a constant distribution of fertilizer lengthwise of the boom. A still further difficulty is in preventing waste of fertilizer when maneuvering and when travelling, and in obtaining the desired flow of fertilizer after maneuvering and travelling.

An object of the present invention is to obviate at least some of the disadvantages and to provide a fertilizer distributor which is capable of distributing fertilizer over a relatively large area during each pass of the distributor over the ground.

According to the invention distributing apparatus for distributing particulate material on the round comprises a mobile frame, storage means for said material carried by the frame, first conveyor arranged to extend transversely to the direction of travel of the apparatus and to receive said material from the storage means, a second conveyor for receiving said material from the first conveyor and conveying the material towards the storage means, and discharge outlets through which the material is to be distributed from the first conveyor, the first apparatus being pivotable from an operative into an inoperative position.

The apparatus may include closure means for closing the is charge outlets. In this way escape of material from the conveyor during travelling and maneuvering, when it is not required to distribute the material, is prevented. Thc apparatus may also include setting means for adjusting the position of the closure means to vary the size of the discharge outlets. This feature enables the rate of distribution of the material to be readily varied.

Conveniently the apparatus also comprises means for interrupting the flow of material from the storage means to the first conveyor when the first conveyor is pivoted into an inoperative position and the flow of material may be interrupted automatically when the first is pivoted into an inoperative position, even hen he pivoting of the conveyor is involuntary and due to an obstruction.

Preferably the mobile frame includes a main frame which supports the storage means, and a subframe which supports he first and second conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to the main frame into the inoperative position. The first and second conveyors may be supported in cantilever from the mobile frame.

The first conveyor may be pivotable about a vertical axis into the inoperative position in which the first conveyor is generally parallel to he direction of travel of the apparatus.

The mobile frame may be arranged to be supported from a tractor and this arrangement may obviate the need for ground engaging wheels on the apparatus for supporting the apparatus. Apparatus wholly supported on a tractor is generally more maneuverable than a trailer form of apparatus.

The first conveyor may be arranged to be held in an operative position by releasable locking means, the locking means being in the form of a resilient detent. In this way the first conveyor is movable into an inoperative position on the conveyor striking an obstruction remote from the pivot axis.

The conveying capacity of the second conveyor may be at least equal to the conveying capacity of the first conveyor. In this way the conveyors may be operated continuously even when the discharge outlets are closed and thc first conveyor can be charged with material before commencing distribution of the material. Moreover the conveyor drives may be operated continuously even during maneuvering when distribution is not required obviating the need to stop and start the conveyor drive.

The provision of a recirculatory conveyor system enables a regular feed of material from the first conveyor along the whole length of the conveyor to be provided as long as the rate of feed of material to the conveyor, the discharge rate from the conveyor, and the capacity of the second conveyor are suitably matched. Thus if the capacity of the first conveyor is greater than the discharge rate the outlets along the length of the conveyor will discharge the same amount of material and the excess material will be returned by the second conveyor to the storage means.

The apparatus may comprise a transfer station at the end of the first conveyor remote from the storage means through which station said material is passed from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

The second conveyor may be inclined upwardly from the transfer station towards the upper part of the storage means.

A stay attached to the mobile frame may be connected to the outer ends of the first and second conveyors and directed so as to bisect the angle between said conveyors.

The second conveyor may be driven from the first conveyor through a drive transmission located at said transfer station.

The closure means for the discharge outlets may comprise a slide movable axially of the first conveyor, and the slide may be operable by a ram acting through a lever.

In one arrangement the apparatus comprises two of each said first and second conveyors, one pair of first and second conveyors being directed transversely in the opposite direction to the other pair of first and second conveyors, and the pairs of conveyors being disposed symmetrically about the storage means. With such an arrangement one pair of said conveyors may be pivotable from an operative into an inoperative position whilst the other pair of said conveyors remains in an operative position.

The invention as specifically applied to a fertilizer distributor will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevation of a complete fertilizer distributor;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation taken from the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fertilizer distributor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the right-hand extremity of the fertilizer distributor as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is another enlarged detail of a portion of the fertilizer distributor as shown in FIG. ll;

FIG. 8 is a scrap section illustrating a detail of the drive to the right-hand half of the fertilizer distributor as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail of the fertilizer distributor as shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates a safety device;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation taken from the right-hand side of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail of the fertilizer distributor as seen in FIG. 1 and illustrates the trip mechanism for operating the material discharge means;

FIG. 3 is an underplan of FIG. 12 showing the operation of the trip mechanism;

FIG. 14 illustrates a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is perspective view of an alternative form of distributor apparatus similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1-14 but with various modifications;

FIG. 16 is a scrap perspective view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view in the direction of arrow 17 in FIG. 15, and

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a modified part of the apparatus.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the fertilizer distributor generally comprises a carrying frame which supports a pair of storage containers in the form of hoppers 21 and 22, and a pair of transversely opposed recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24 which are carried by respective subframes 2S and 26 pivoted to the carrying frame about respective vertical pivot axes X-X and Y-Y. As the distributor is symmetrical about an axis lying between the axes X-X and Y-Y, the same reference numerals will be utilized to identify equivalent components of the two halves.

The carrying frame 20 comprises a rigid box section base formed from a transverse beam 27 having its ends welded to a pair of rearwardly and upwardly diverging arms 28 terminating in respective brackets 29 secured to the hoppers 21 and 22. A pair of rearwardly converging arms 30 are also welded to the ends of the transverse beam 27 and are secured to a vertically extending pillar 31. An upstanding A-frame 32 has its ends welded to the top face of the beam 27 adjacent its ends, and its apex welded to the bottom end of a bar 33 which is inclined upwardly and backwardly and is welded, together with the top of the pillar 31, to a common pivot plate 34. The A-frame 32 has a crossbar 35 to the center of which one end of a strut 36 is welded, the other end of the strut36 being welded to the center portion of the pillar 31 as shown in FIG. 2. So that the carrying frame 20 can be carried by the threepoint linkage of a tractor, a pair of transversely spaced and transversely aligned lugs 37 are provided on respective brackets 38 welded to the beam 27 and the respective ends of the A-frame 32, and a pair of closed spaced brackets 39 defining transversely aligned lift pinholes 40 are welded to the apex of the A-frame 32.

The hoppers 21 and 22 are rigidly secured to the carrying frame 20 by means of the brackets 29 and unshown connections to the pillar 31, the bar 33 and the strut 36. As shown in FIG. 3, the top of each hopper 21 and 22 is open so that the granular or powdered fertilizer can be poured from bags or from a bulk storage silo directly into the hoppers. The fertilizer that is to be distributed is delivered out of the bottom of each of the hoppers 21 and 22, in a manner that will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, into the respective recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24.

Each of the recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24 generally comprises a first duct 41 which extends horizontally away from the respective hopper 21 or 22 in a direction transverse to the path in which the distributor will be moved over the ground by the associated tractor, and a second duct 42 which extends from the top of the respective hopper 21 or 22 to that end of the corresponding first duct 41 which is remote from the respective hopper. The first duct 41 conveys the fertilizer from its juncture with the respective hopper, this juncture constituting a fertilizer supply station, towards a transition casing 43 which constitutes a fertilizer transfer station. A fertilizer discharge means indicated generally by arrow 44 is arranged along the whole length of each first duct 41 and is described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 11 to 13. A first fertilizer conveyor means in the form of an Archimedean screw 45, as shown in FIG. 4, is arranged within the first duct 41 for conveying the fertilizer over the fertilizer discharge means 44 which are arranged and designed, as will be later described, so that they will discharge a layer of the fertilizer onto the ground passing beneath the first ducts 41 as the distributor is moved at a substantially constant speed over the ground by the associated tractor. In order to ensure an even distribution of fertilizer throughout the length of each first duct 41, it is desirable for the Archimedean screw 45 to convey a surplus of fertilizer along the first duct 41, and this surplus of fertilizer is fed back to the top of the respective hopper 21 or 22 by means of the second duct 42 which incorporates a second fertilizer conveyor means in the form of an Archimedean screw 46, see FIG. 4, which conveys The subframes 25 and 26 are each in the form of a pair of tubes 48 which are bent to similar U-shape, are placed parallely side-by-side, and then have their common ends welded to respective upper and lower pivot brackets 49 and 50. Each upper pivot bracket 49 is bifurcated as shown to embrace the corresponding end of the common pivot plate 34 to which they are secured by respective pivot pins 51-in this manner the upper pivot brackets 49 support part of the weight of the respective subframes 25 and 26. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 each lower pivot bracket is of U-shape and has end flanges 52 which are welded to the lower ends of the tubes 48, to a sheet metal trough 53 which will be described later, and to a depending pivot pin 54 which lies on the corresponding axis X-X or Y-Y and fits into a corresponding pivot hole in an unshown bracket secured to the corresponding arm 30. Adjacent its upper pivot bracket 49, the tubes 48 of each subframe 25 or 26 are welded to an upstanding bracket 55 which is also seen in FIG. 7 and supports the upper end of the corresponding sccond duct 42. In order to inhibit spillage of the fertilizer issuing from the discharge stations 47, each bracket 55 additionally supports a chute 56 for ensuring that the fertilizcr will fall into the appropriate hopper 21 or 22. Each pair of tubes 48 are also welded to brackets 57 and 58 which are respectively secured to the first duct 41 and the second duct 42, and are additionally welded to a tensioning bracket 59 which is connected by a pair of stays 60 to the corresponding transition casin g 43.

The drive to the Archimedean screws 45 and 46 is taken from the tractor power takeoff shaft which is bolted to a power input flange 61 carried by a support member 62 which is bolted to the beam 27 and supports a right-angle drive gearing driving a cross-shaft and a double V-pulley 63 as seen in FlGS. 1 to 3. Each V-groove of the pulley 63 drives a separate belt 64 passing around a respective aligned drive pulley 65 connected, as shown in FIG. 8, to drive a stub shaft 66 through a key 67. The stub shaft 66 is supported by a sealed lubricant ball race 68 from a cover 69 secured by unshown wingnuts coacting with unshown studs passing through lugs 70 (see FIGS. 12 and 13) into an end plate 71 welded to the metal trough 53. The ball race 68 is located axially in the cover 69 by a circlip 72, and the stub shaft 66 is axially located by an integral shoulder abutting one side of the inner race of bearing 68 and by a circlip 73 locating the drive pulley 65 against the other side of the inner race of bearing 68 through an intermediate washer 74. A neoprene sealing washer 75 coacts with the cover 69 to prevent fertilizer from within the trough 53 from fouling the ball race 68, and the stub shaft 66 is welded to a tubular core 76 to the Archimedean screw 45.

From the opposite end of the Archimedean screw 45 the core 76 is welded to a bullet-nosed plug 77 which has a bifurcated end and is a close fit in a bore formed in the hub of a bevel gear wheel 78, the driving connection being a diametral pin 79 secured to the hub of the gear wheel 78 and engaging the bifurcated end of the plug 77. The gear 78 meshes a corresponding bevel gear wheel 80 which has fewer gear teeth and drives a tubularcore 81 of the Archimedean screw 46 by means ofa diametral pin 82 which is secured to the hub of the gear wheel 80 and drivingly engages the bifurcated end of a bullet-nosed plug 83 welded to the tubular core 81. In this manner the bevel gears 78 and 80 const tute a drive transmission device in the form of a multiplication gear train whereby the Archimedean screw 46 will be driven faster than the Archimedean screw 45 to ensure that the transition casing 43 will not be clogged by a buildup of the excess fertilizer discharged by the first duct 41. The gears 78 and 80 are made of nylon to require no lubrication and are supported by metal journals 84, in a manner that will be described later, from a mounting plate 85 welded to the transition casing 43, nylon thrust washers 86 and neoprene sealing washers 87 being utilized.

The upper end of the Archimedean screw 46 is supported by a stub shaft 88 which is welded to the tubular core 81, as shown in FlG. 7, and is supported in a sealed lubricant ballrace 89 secured to a cover 90 by a circlip 91. The stub shaft 88 carries a neoprene sealing washer 92 to prevent the fertilizer from fouling the ball-race 89, and is located axially by a circlip 93. The cover 90 is detachably secured to the bracket 55 by means of a pair of studs 94 and coacting wingnuts 95.

The first and second ducts 41 and 42 are preferably made from extruded polythene pipes. As shown in FIG. 7 the upper end of the second duct 42 is located by a short metal tube 96 welded to the bracket 55, and the lower end of the second duct 42 is similarly located in a short metal tube 97 welded to a flange 98 of the transition casing 43. The outboard end of the first duct 4l-is also located in a short metal tube 99 welded to the flange 98 of the transition casing 43 and its inboard end is located in a sheet metal bracket 100 welded to a terminal flange 101 of the trough 53 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The bracket 100 is of areuate configuration and embraces a portion of the first duct 41 exceeding 180 of its supported It will now be appreciated that the whole of the structure supported by each subframe 25 and 26 is held together solely by the wingnuts 95 securing the covers 90 to the brackets 55, by the unshown wingnuts securing the covers 69 to the end plates 71, and by the tensile forces in the stays 60. The Archimedean screws 45 together with their covers 69 and pulleys 65 can be withdrawn from their respective first ducts 41 after the said unshown wingnuts securing the covers 69 to the end plates 71 have been undone. Similarly the Archimedean screws 46 together with their covers 90 can be withdrawn from their respective second ducts 42 after the wingnuts 95 have been undone. The servicing and cleaning of the Archimedean screws 45 and 46 is accordingly simple, and the rest of the distributor can be dismantled after the stays 60 have been released by unscrewing their terminal wingnuts so that the tubes defining the first duct 41 and the second duct 42 can be withdrawn from the rest of the distributor. It should be noted that the covers .69 and 90 l5-removed enable their Archimedean screws 45 or 46 to be withdrawn through appropriate sized apertures in the end plate 71 or the bracket 55. This mode of construction and the materials employed facilitate the servicing of the distributor. The gear wheels 78 and 80 are readily accessible by removing a gear cover 102 and are readily replaced by withdrawing the Archimedean screws 45 and 46 sufficiently to disengage the respective plugs 77 and 83. It should be noted that the unshown bolts securing the gear cover 102 to the mounting plate 85 of the transition casing 43 also pass through, locate and secure a pair of plates 103 and 104 to which the meta] journals 84 are respectively welded-as the plates 103 and 104 can readily be separated, it will be appreciated that no difficulty will be experienced in withdrawing the gear wheels 78 and 80 from their respective metal journals 84.

Apart from the aperture defining the discharge station 47, the polythene tube defining the second duct 42 is quite plain but is additionally detachably secured to the tubes 48 by the bracket 58.

The polythene tube defining the first duct 41 is detachably secured to the tubes 48 by the bracket 57 and has its undersurface punctured by a regular series of equispaced apertures 105 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. An axially movable shutter 106 is slidable along the undersurface of the duct 41 and is curved in cross section as shown in FIG. 5 to be a sealing fit against the duct 41. The transverse curvature of the shutter 106 additionally imparts reasonable degree of longitudinal stiffness, and only the few axially spaced straps 107 are required to hold the shutter 106 in place. FIG. 5 illustrates a typical construction of one of the straps 107 which comprises a pair of sheet metal strips 108 secured together at the top by a screw fastener 109 and having their bottoms secured by respective screws 110 to a nylon block 111 which urges the shutter 106 into sealing contact with the duct 41 and coacts with the lateral lips 112 of the shutter 106 for location purposes. Each of the strips 108 is formed with a protrusion 113 which engages a corresponding hole 1130 in the duct 41 to ensure accurate location of each strap 107.

After the transition point of the duct 41 with the trough 53, the series of apertures is continued as apertures 114 in the bottom of the trough as shown in FIGS. 8 and 13. The shutter 106 is formed with a series of evenly spaced contoured apertures 115 as shown in FIG. 13 and extends the full combined lengths of the trough 53 and the first duct 41 so that each contoured aperture 115 can bealigned simultaneously with a corresponding aperture 105 in the first duct 41 or aperture 114 in the trough 53. A pair of tension springs 116 shown in FIG. 11 react between the flanges 112 of the shutter 106 and the pivot bracket 50 to pull the inboard end of the shutter 106 to the position in which all of the apertures 105 and 114 are open. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the outboard end of the shutter 106 is connected by a bracket 117 to an adjustment mechanism which comprises an unthreaded bush 118 secured by a welded yoke 119 to the end of the bracket 117 and slidable along a threaded adjustment rod 120 which coacts with a nut 121 welded to a lug 122 formed integral with the mounting plate 85. On the opposite side of the nut 121 to the bush 118, a tommy bar 123 passes through a diametral bore in the adjustment rod 120 for setting the position of the bush 118. The shutter 106 is moved to its closed position by means of a toggle linkage 124, shown in FIG. 13, which slides the shutter 106 against the action of the springs 116 to its closed position, the original degree of opening being set by the left-hand limit of the bush 1 18 along the threaded rod 120. The two toggle linkages 124 are preferably operated by the tractor driver utilizing cords attached to the eyes 125, and the preset degree of opening can be assessed from the tractor drivers seat by reference to a scale 126 on each transition casing 23 and a corresponding pointer 127 of which the position is dependent on the setting of the respective bush 118.

Although the apertures 105 in the first duct 41 and the apertures 114 in the trough 53 together with the contoured apertures 115 in the shutter 106 cooperate to define variable area discharge orifices through which the fertilizer will pour at a controlled rate onto the ground, the actual distribution of the fertilizer on the ground will depend on the height of the contoured apertures 115 above ground level, the transverse spacing of the contoured apertures 115, and the angle of divergence of the falling fertilizer. With the illustrated distributor, each of the contoured apertures 115 will deposit a distinct strip of fertilizer along the ground. Accordingly the distributor will deposite a parallel series of similar strips of fertilizer on the ground over which the distributor is moved. Each strip of fertilizer will be substantially uniform throughout its length and will be comparable with the remaining strips of fertilizer. However, for all practical purposes the stripped layer deposited by the distributor is substantially uniform provided the spacing of the individual strips are not too great-spacings of up to 6 inches appear to be quite practicable as experiments have proven that a plant is affected by fertilizer placed on the ground 6 inches away. Nevertheless, the actual spacing of the discharge orifices should be arranged to be suitable for the intended use and any convenient spacing of the apertures .105 and 114 may be employed between, say, 1 to 6 inches. If desired larger spacings of up to 28 or 30 irches between cavities may be utilized for special purposes. However, it should be noted that the minimum spacing is related to the transverse dimensions of the apertures 105 and. 114 due to the function of the shutter 106. Another way to reduce the spacing between the strips is to form two or more staggered series of apertures 105 and 114 with corresponding staggered series of apertures 115 in the shutter 106.

The two recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24 are usually held in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of respective locking levers 128 which are best appreciated from FIGS. 9 and 10. Each locking lever 20 is connected by a horizontal pivot 129 to an extension of the corresponding bracket 29 and is urged downwards by an overcenter tension spring 130 acting between a pin 131 on the lever 12% and a pin 132 secured to the bracket 29, so that an integral dog 133 lockingly engages a detent 134 defined by the top surface of the bracket 57. However, if one of the levers 128 is move upwards, the dog 133 will be disengaged from the detent 134 and held by the overcenter spring 130 in the disengaged position so that the corresponding subframe 25 or 26, complete with the associated recirculatory material conveyance system 23 or 24, can be swung about the corresponding axis X-X or Y-Y to an inoperative position lying longitudinally behind the tractor. This swinging movement can be achieved by manual operation of the levers 128, for instance when the distributor is to be towed along the road or through a gate or when it is desired for only one side of the distributor to be used or when one of the Archimedean screws 45 is to be withdrawn, and will also be achieved if either of the first ducts 41 strikes an obstaclethus the impact of a collision will cause the inclined surfaces of the dog 133 and the detent 134 to interact to release the section in question and minimize damage. The positioning of the lever 128 between the tubes 48 in its locked position prevents it from being operated accidentally. It should be noted that, as soon as a section is swung to its trailing position, the corresponding driving belt 64 will be slackened to break the drive.

As shown in FIG. 11, the trough 53 is arranged immediately beneath the hopper 21 to receive a constant supply of the fertilizer. However, whenever a section is swung to the trailing position, the corresponding trough 53 will be moved away from the base of its hopper 21 or 22 and the remaining contents of the hopper could be lost. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, the locking levers 128 are provided with an operating slot 135 coacting with an operating pin 136 associated with a cutoff device between the hopper 21 or 22 and the corresponding trough 53. This cutoff device takes the form of a slide 137 which is shown in FIG. 11 and has lips 138 supported by longitudinal guides 139 secured by rivets 140 to the bottom of the hopper 21. The slide 137 passes through a small working clearance between the bottom of the hopper 21 and the top flanges 141 of the trough 53, and has a series of apertures 142 which are aligned with corresponding apertures 143 whenever the locking lever 128 is in its closed position. However, as soon as the locking lever 128 is moved sufficiently to disengage its dog 133 from the corresponding detect 134, the slot 135 operates the pin 136 for the slide 137 to close the apertures 143 in the bottom of the hopper 21 to inhibit loss of fertilizer when that section is swung to its inoperative position.

An alternative construction for the outboard end of each recirculatory material conveyance system is illustrated in FIG. 14 from which it will be observed that the first and second ducts 41 and 42 are crossed in a substantially vertical plane before reaching the transfer casing 43. In this manner the excess fertilizer reaching the transfer casing 43 will fall onto the Archimedean screw 46 to be conveyed up the second duct 42. This arrangement avoids any possible clogging of the fertilizer in the transfer casing 43. Although the fertilizer discharge means is not shown, it is of the same type as already described and extends the full length of the first duct 41 and continues along the undersurface of the transition casing 43 which is asymmetrical due to the arrangement of the ducts 41 and 42. Instead of the gear wheels 78 and 80, a pair of U-pulleys 178 and 180 connected by a V-belt 181 passing over a pair of guide pulleys 182 are utilized to accommodate the skewed positions of the Archimedean screws 45 and 46. The pulleys 178 and 180 are of different diameters so that the Archimedean screw 46 will be driven faster than the Archimedean screw 45, and are supported by respective bosses 84 welded to a single plate 183 secured to the mounting plate 85 by unshown bolts which also secure the belt cover 102.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 15-17, to which we now refer, the same reference numerals are applied to similar parts to those in the embodiment of FIGS. 1- 14.

In FIG. 15, the two recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24 are shown in their inoperative positions in which they have been swung through approximately 90 about the axes of their respective pivot pins 51. As with the previous construction, the subframes 25 and 26 are each formed from a pair of tubes 48 which are placed parallely sidc-by-side, and have their common upper ends welded to respective upper brackets 49 which are secured by the pivot pins 51 to the common pivot plate 34. However, instead of being bent to similar U-shape, each pair of tubes 48 is bent to similar L-shape and their bottom ends are welded to a pair of parallely spaced horizontal tubes 205 and 206. The connection between each pair of tubes 48 and the corresponding horizontal tubes 205 and 206 is strengthened by a pair of vertical tubular braces 207. Each subframe is completed by a pair of lower parallely spaced horizontal tubes 208 which are seen best from FIG. 17. The pair of tubes 208 and the tubes 205 and 206 form a nest of four tubes which are welded to respective end plates 209 of which only one is seen in FIG. 15, the other being shown in FIG. 17. The nest of tubes is further strengthened by various welded brackets 210 and 211. Each subframe is pivotally supported from the tubes 201 in the corresponding arms 30 by means of a vertically extending pin 212 welded to a bracket 213 which is in turn welded to the tubes 205 and 206 as shown in FIG. 17. It should be particularly noted that the metal trough 53 described with reference to FIGS. 114 is omitted and is replaced by a pair of small sheet metal lips 214 and 215 which have respective integral flaps 216 and 217 arranged to be substantially tangential to the first duct 41. In this manner, it is possible for the first duct 41 to extend in one piece from the transition casing 43 right beneath the respective hopper 22 thereby avoiding the transition between the first duct 41 and the now omitted sheet metal trough 53. Additionally, the cost of the structure is substantially reduced and the control of the fertilizer discharge means 44 is considerably simplified.

The brackets 57 and 58 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-14 are omitted in view of the improved rigidity of the subframe, and the first and second ducts 41 and 42 are located against axial rotation by means of respective lugs 218 formed integral with the plate 209 and 219 formed integral with a plate 55. In both instances, the lugs are formed from the respective plate so that they would normally extend within the radius of the respective clearance hole for the corresponding duct, and then the lugs are bent axially into the plane of the duct. Each duct is provided with a corresponding peripheral location hole at its end, so that the lug 218 or 219 serves to locate the duct against both axial and rotational movement.

The duct 41 has a portion which fits between the lips 214 and 215 is provided with eight large apertures for allowing material to feed under gravity into the duct 41 from the overlapped apertures between the slide 137 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) and the base of the hopper. The smaller apertures 105 are arranged at even intervals along the bottom of the duct 41 as before.

The embodiment of FIGS. 15-17 includes a modified locking arrangement in place of the locking lever 128 and associated mechanism of FIGS. 1-14. A spring detent plate 221, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, is mounted from each bracket 29. Each spring detent plate 221 is bent to define a horizontally acting V-dentent 222, and is secured to a pair of parallel horizontally directed guide pins which are slidable in bosses 223 secured to the plate 29. A pair of compression coil springs 224 react between the bosses 223 and the detent plate 221 to urge the V-detent 222 away from the bracket 229. The V-detent 222 is for engagement with a corresponding V-location 225 defined by a correspondingly bent sheet metal plate 226 welded between the respective pair of tubes 207 and tubes 205 and 206. In this manner, the engagement of the V- detent 222 with the V-location 225 will hold the corresponding recirculatory material conveyance system in its operative position until it either strikes an obstruction and swings back in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 16, or is deliberately pushed in the same direction to the stowed position shown in FIG. 15. The slide 137 is connected by a withdrawable pin 227 to the V-detent 222 whereby the action of the compression coil springs 224 will move the slide 137, whenever the V-detent 222 is disengaged from the V-location 225, to the position in which the supply of material from the hopper 21 is completely interrupted. In this manner, accidental loss of material is prevented whenever either of the recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 or 24 is swung in the direction of arrow A into its inoperative position. Similarly, whenever the recirculatory material conveyance system 23 or 24 is swung in the direction of the corresponding arrow B or C in FIG. 15, the subsequent engagement of the V-detent 222 with a V-location 225 will cause the slide 137 to be moved back into the position in which material is free to move from the corresponding hopper 21 or 22 into the respective duct 41.

It should particularly be noted that the stowed system shown in FIG. is very convenient for moving the entire machine from field to field, or along roads, or other narrow spaces in which the presence of the laterally extending recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24 would otherwise cause a considerable inconvenience. In order to lock the subframes 25 and 26 in the position shown in FIG. 15, a simple tie bar 228 interconnects the sheet metal members 226 defin- .ing the V-loeations 225. The tie bar 228 conveniently has a pair of pins arranged at each end for engaging the holes 229 formed in a top surface of the member 226. Alternatively, the pins and the holes 229 could have their positions reversed. Conveniently, the tie bar 228 is normally stowed on the top of the common pivot plate 34 when the machine is in operation, and the pair of pins 51 can be used to hold it in place.

It will be noticed from FIG. 15 that the second ducts 42 are now of larger diameter tan the first ducts 41 and the Archimedean screw 46 is correspondingly of larger diameter than the Archimedean screw 45. This ensures that the second duct 42 will prevent any accumulation of material in the transition casing 43 when the fertilizer discharge means 44 is closed. If desired, a similar result could be obtained by using ducts and Archimedean screws of similar diameter and achieving the differential flow capacity by arranging for the Archimedean screw 46 to have a larger pitch than the Archimedean screw 45.

Referring now to FIG. 18 in which the same reference numerals are used for similar parts to those described with reference to FIGS. 1--17. The parts of the apparatus not shown in the present drawing may be the same or similar to any one of the embodiments described and illustrated in FIGS. 1--17, and such parts which are the same or similar will not be further described except as may be necessary for explanation.

In FIG. 18 the distributing apparatus has two first ducts 41 each with an associated shutter or slide 106. The ducts 41 each have axially spaced apertures 105 along their lower sides and the shutters 106 also have axially spaced apertures 115. When the apertures 105 in the ducts and the apertures in the shutters 106 are out of registration with one another, as shown in the drawing, material in the ducts cannot be distributed from the ducts. On the other hand when the apertures 105 and 115 are in registration with one another material can be distributed from the ducts.

As before the shutters are spring-urged towards a position in which the apertures 105 and 115 are in registration with one another i.e., in the open position. The shutters are also supported from the first ducts at intervals by bearing blocks (not shown). The shutters are spring-urged towards an open position by coil springs (not shown), and the shutters are supported from the first ducts by nylon bearing blocks trapped by metal strips (not shown) encircling the ducts 41.

The movement of the shutters in the closing direction is limited by an adjustable nut (not shown) to thereby limit the extent of overlapping of the apertures 105 and 115 in the open position and limit the size of the openings for discharging material from the ducts.

Each of the shutters 106 is fitted with a pin 270 located adjacent and spaced from the inboard end of the shutter and each pin 270 is arranged to be contacted by a bellcrank lever 271 each mounted for pivoting about a pivot pin 272. The pivot pins 272 are each secured to a tube 28 forming part of the carrying frame of the apparatus. The levers 271 each have two arms 273 and 274, one of the arms 273 contacting the pin 270, and the other of the arms 274 having an enlarged end 275 contacting a movable plate 276 of a ram assembly 277 for moving the shutters 106 against the action ofthe springs.

The ram assembly 277 includes a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder 278. A piston rod 279 extends from the cylinder 278 and is secured at its end remote from the cylinder to a fixed bent plate 280 which is itself fixed to a crossbar 200 of the carrying frame. The crossbar 200 is secured to rearwardly extending arms 30 and a vertically inclined pillar 31 is secured to the middle of the cross bar 200.

Two guide bolts 281 are secured to the bent plate 280 and extend slidably through the movable plate 276. The ram cylinder 278 is secured to the plate 276 and is fed with hydraulic fluid along a pipe 282. The ends of the bolts 281 remote from the plate 280 are held by apertured lugs 283 to a drive belt guide 284.

It will be appreciated that upon extension and contraction of the ram the cylinder 278 moves with respect to the piston rod 279 and thereby moves the plate 276 and the levers 271. As shown in the drawing the ram is in its extended position so that the levers 271 are pivoted about their pivots 272, the arms 273 contacting the pins 270 and moving the shutters 106 towards a closed position against the action of the springs. Upon retracting of the ram the cylinder 278 moves towards the plate 280 and the levers 271 are maintained in contact with the plate 276 as it moves with the cylinder 278 by the action of the shutters on the arms 273 until the shutters 106 are brought up against their stops when the shutters are in the open position.

The ram is fed with hydraulic fluid through the pipe 28 from the hydraulic pump of a tractor supporting the apparatus, and operation of the ram is controlled by the tractor driver by control means (not shown) adjacent the driving position.

Control of the position of the shutter between a fully open and fully closed position may be controlled by extending or contracting the ram only a part of the full stroke of the ram.

The piston rod 279 is enclosed in a flexible corrugated tube 285. The driven belt guide 284 guides drive belts 286 for the screw conveyors (not shown) in the first ducts 41.

The recirculatory conveyance systems are mounted on the carrying frame in a similar manner to that described with reference to FIGS. 1-14 or with reference to FIGS. 157 and can also be swung through in a similar manner.

If desired the distributor may' be used also for sowing seed or distributing other granular or powdered materials It will be appreciated that various structural alterations can be made to the distributor without adversely affecting its operation.

Furthermore, the distributor could be mounted on its own wheels, and one of the recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 or 24 and the associated subframe 25 or 26 could be omitted if so desired.

Another possible modification is to rearrange the recirculatory material conveyance systems 23 and 24 so that one of the ducts 41 or 42 lies coaxially inside the other. For instance the second duct 42 could be arranged within the first duct 41 which would be provided with fertilizer discharge means of the type already described. However, the inner duct 42 would essentially be of smaller diameter and its Archimedean screw would have to be riven faster to cope with the return flow of fertilizer or other material. In one possible construction the inner duct 42 would be formed integral with an external Archimedean screw constituting the Archimedean screw 45, and would be mounted for driven rotation within the outer duct 41.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Distributing apparatus for distributing particulate material on the ground comprising a mobil frame, storage means for said material carried by the frame, a first conveyor arranged to extend transversely to the direction of travel of the apparatus in an operating position and to receive said material from the storage means, a second conveyor for receiving excess material from the first conveyor and conveying the material back towards the storage means, and discharge outlets in the first conveyor through which the material is to be distributed from the first conveyor, the first conveyor being movable from said transversely extending operative position to a inoperative position in which the width of the apparatus is relatively less than in the operative position.

2. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising closure mean for" automatically interrupting the fiow of material from the storage means to the first conveyor when the first conveyor is moved into the inoperative position.

3. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mobile frame includes a main frame which supports the storage means, and a transversely extending subframe which supports the first and second conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to the main frame into the inoperative position.

4. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second conveyors are supported in cantilever from the mobile frame on a subframe.

S. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveyors are pivotable about a vertical axis into the inoperative position in which the conveyors lie generally parallel to the direction of travel of the apparatus, and drive means for the conveyors is disconnected when the conveyors are moved into the inoperative position.

6. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first conveyor is arranged to be held in the operative position by releasable lockin means, the locking means being in the form ofa resilient detect whereby the conveyor can move into the inoperative position on encountering an obstruction.

7. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveying capacity of the second conveyor is at least equal to the conveying capacity of the first conveyor, whereby the conveyors can be operated when the discharge outlets are closed.

8. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second conveyor is inclined upwardly towards the upper part of the storage means from the end of the first conveyor remote from the storage means, and a stay is attached to the mobile frame and is connected to the outer ends of the first and second conveyors and is directed so as to bisect the angle between said conveyors.

9. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein control means for controlling the closing of the discharge outlets comprises a slide movable axially of the first conveyor, and the slide is operable by a fluid-operated ram.

10. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising two of each of said first and second conveyors, one pair of first and second conveyors being directed transversely of the direction of travel in the opposite direction to the other pair of first and second conveyors in an operating position.

11. Distributing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein one pair of said conveyors is movable from an operative into an inoperative position independently of the other pair of said conveyors. 

1. Distributing apparatus for distributing particulate material on the ground comprising a mobil frame, storage means for said material carried by the frame, a first conveyor arranged to extend transversely to the direction of travel of the apparatus in an operating position and to receive said material from the storage means, a second conveyor for receiving excess material from the first conveyor and conveying the material back towards the storage means, and discharge outlets in the first conveyor through which the material is to be distributed from the first conveyor, the first cOnveyor being movable from said transversely extending operative position to a inoperative position in which the width of the apparatus is relatively less than in the operative position.
 2. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising closure mean for automatically interrupting the flow of material from the storage means to the first conveyor when the first conveyor is moved into the inoperative position.
 3. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mobile frame includes a main frame which supports the storage means, and a transversely extending subframe which supports the first and second conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to the main frame into the inoperative position.
 4. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second conveyors are supported in cantilever from the mobile frame on a subframe.
 5. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveyors are pivotable about a vertical axis into the inoperative position in which the conveyors lie generally parallel to the direction of travel of the apparatus, and drive means for the conveyors is disconnected when the conveyors are moved into the inoperative position.
 6. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first conveyor is arranged to be held in the operative position by releasable lockin means, the locking means being in the form of a resilient detect whereby the conveyor can move into the inoperative position on encountering an obstruction.
 7. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveying capacity of the second conveyor is at least equal to the conveying capacity of the first conveyor, whereby the conveyors can be operated when the discharge outlets are closed.
 8. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second conveyor is inclined upwardly towards the upper part of the storage means from the end of the first conveyor remote from the storage means, and a stay is attached to the mobile frame and is connected to the outer ends of the first and second conveyors and is directed so as to bisect the angle between said conveyors.
 9. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein control means for controlling the closing of the discharge outlets comprises a slide movable axially of the first conveyor, and the slide is operable by a fluid-operated ram.
 10. Distributing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising two of each of said first and second conveyors, one pair of first and second conveyors being directed transversely of the direction of travel in the opposite direction to the other pair of first and second conveyors in an operating position.
 11. Distributing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein one pair of said conveyors is movable from an operative into an inoperative position independently of the other pair of said conveyors. 